Studies show that you’re probably at your lowest weight of the year right about now. The summer months have a way of motivating us into good diet and exercise habits, and the upcoming fall and winter months tend to let us slack off a bit. Or a lot. According to this study, weight gain is most likely to happen in the 6 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Even worse, it’s common for at least some of that weight to stay on, building up slowly over the years until you’ve got a real problem.
We all know the reasons why seasonal weight gain can happen – holiday parties with high calorie food and drinks, less access to fresh seasonal produce, busy schedules pushing out gym time and cold weather limiting outdoor activities.
But there is more that you can do to avoid weight gain than just avoiding cookies and stuffing.
Strength training creates a system where your body works for you, now and in the future, by burning more calories even when you aren’t working out. Woodside Personal Trainers help clients all year long with weight loss, and strength training is the key. This time of year is the best time to focus on strength to help combat the fall and winter challenges that are approaching. And should you end up with an extra pound or two despite your best efforts, having this conditioning will go a long way towards taking it off again.
Worried about bulking up? It’s a myth that strength training will make you look bulky. Muscle building, or hypertrophy, is a very deliberate course of training. Adding weight machines, free weights, and body weight work into your routine will give you definition and lean muscle mass, not bulk. Still concerned? Keep to lighter weights and higher reps.
